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Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge in the Texas Panhandle, Canyon Texas is a short grass prairie ecosystem that spills into marshes, woodlands, riparian habitat, crop-land and water-carved canyon walls. While it no longer has buffalo or a lake it is a quality refuge for migratory birds and year-round wildlife.
We had a little excitement on arrival. The gate was to open until 6pm, confirmed with Stephanie b y phone before the visitor center closed at 4:30pm. When we arrived 5:15pm the gate was closed- despite our problems with knowing what time it is because of daylight savings time, standard time, and multiple time zones we were sure it was not yet 6pm or later. We contacted Jude Smith after multiple phone calls and menus through the system to find he is the closest ranger and is three hours away. Since we were planning on camping Jude gave us direction on how to enter the refuge by way of the Authorized vehicle routes. We had to go through two gates, the maintenance area and ranger quarters area but after a few combination lock snafus we made it in and got parked for our stay.
We stayed in the primitive campground, that has room for 30+ units, with one other camper for a few nights and alone for a few nights.
Do you see us in the distance?
Sunset out our front window
Sunset out our front window
The refuge is home to turtles, tarantulas, and Texas horned lizards.
It was still too chilly for the turtles and the tarantulas to be out in great number so we did not get to see any.
White faced ibis
Mourning dove
Texas Horned Lizard
The Plains Woodland: From 1940-1959 the US Forest Service planted 50,000 trees in this area. The trees improved soil conservations and provided shade and shelter for wildlife. The mourning doves are abundant in the area and find good nesting in the elms and cottonwoods.
Grassland prairie: The goal of the refuge is to provide as many different habitat types as possible, so resident and migratory animals may exist here. Grazing is a part of grassland management and since there are no longer bison on these plains, cattle now graze on a carefully planned program.
Wild Flowers
Succulents
The many land areas in the park.
One of the many holes Biscuit stuck his nose into on critter hunts.
Of of our hiking paths
Birding blind at the dried up Buffalo Lake
Mark thinking way too hard
Wednesday was a very windy day- gusts up to 60mph. The sand and dust made the area look quite ominous.
Biscuit was not too thrilled about the wind but wanted to sit outside. Kathleen joined him after much begging and Biscuit hid under her legs for most of the time. During our walk it was interesting to see what Biscuit would have looked like with ears that stood up instead of being floppy.
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